Columbus, OH — Braving the winter elements of an impending snowstorm, United States Trotting Association directors and members from District 1 met Saturday (Jan. 19) at the Marriott University Area in Columbus, Ohio, to discuss industry matters and vote upon 26 rule change proposals submitted for consideration at the upcoming USTA annual meeting in March.

Skip Hoovler (foreground) is joined by fellow USTA directors Dan Ater, Stacy Cahill, and Dr. John Mossbarger at the Association’s District 1 meeting Saturday (Jan. 19) in Columbus. USTA photo.

Director Skip Hoovler moderated the conversation, which saw the group advocate for the adoption of 15 proposals, recommend the rejection of nine, and table two others for further discussion.

Among those in attendance were Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston; Ohio State Racing Commission chairman Bob Schmitz; Kevin Greenfield and Renee Mancino, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s outgoing president and current executive director, respectively; Gary Iles, owner of top Ohio-bred pacer Lather Up, one of the nation’s leading sophomores in 2018; Shara Weaver and Madeline Roche, owners of Ohio Sires Stakes champion Two O B Wonkenobi, and Mike Tanner, USTA executive vice president.

Directors Dan Ater, Stacy Cahill, Skip Hoovler, and John Mossbarger met prior to the meeting and re-elected Dick Brandt as District 1 chairman. Brandt also serves on the USTA’s executive committee as the Association’s treasurer.

A summary of the District 1 recommendations appears below (to read the full rule change proposals, click here).

Proposal #1 (Racing terminology and definitions): Accepted
Proposal #2 (Paddock rules): Accepted
Proposal #3 (Horses entering track): Rejected
Proposal #4 (Pari-mutuel, non-extended meet wins): Rejected
Proposal #5 (Persons eligible to claim): Approved
Proposal #6 (Non-extended meet trailers): Rejected
Proposal #7 (Purse distribution for DQ’d horse): Rejected
Proposal #8 (Secure entry process): Accepted
Proposal #9 (Electronic display of entry): Rejected
Proposal #10 (Outside/inside post draws): Rejected
Proposal #11 (Come to gate no nearer than 1/4-mile prior): Accepted
Proposal #12 (Speed of gate): Accepted
Proposal #13 (No charging the gate): Accepted
Proposal #14 (Penalties for violation of starting rule): Rejected
Proposal #15 (Deletion of “Holding Horses Before Start”): Accepted
Proposal #16 (Single trailer – second tier): Rejected
Proposal #17 (Definition of amateur driver): Accepted
Proposal #18 (“P” drivers for amateur races only): Rejected
Proposal #19 (Distance of lead horse from pylons): Tabled
Proposal #20 (Black whips): Accepted, w/amendment of “only black whips”
Proposal #21 (Extended break placings): Tabled
Proposal #22 (Mud aprons): Accepted
Proposal #23 (Total number of mares bred): Accepted with amendment of “five exception mares.”
Proposal #24 (Deadline of lists of mares bred): Accepted
Proposal #25 (Restriction on reuse of names): Accepted
Proposal #26 (License trainers/active USTA membership): Accepted